OAKLAND, Calif. – Fresh off coming home from a national tournament schedule that saw the Monarchs not only claim the top spot in the Cal-Hi Sports state rankings, but the top ranking in entire nation, Archbishop Mitty highlighted the seven Saturday games of the Sixth Annual Bishop O’Dowd MLK Classic in a match-up with host Bishop O’Dowd.
In the first game back after their travels Mitty delivered head coach Sue Phillips career win No. 800 in a running clock West Catholic Athletic League opening win at cross-town Presentation, and then Mitty added two more two more lopsided league wins heading into the showdown with O’Dowd.
The anticipated showdown between the Monarchs and the Dragons never really materialized after Archbishop Mitty (14-0) bolted out to a 17-0 lead and never let up after extending the lead just about up until the final buzzer in a 66-18 victory that was played under a running clock in the fourth quarter.
State Freshman of the Year McKenna Woliczko led the way with a double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds with four blocked shots, Bucknell-bound Elana Weisman had 13 points (two three-pointers) and five rebounds, and Connecticut-committed senior star Morgan Cheli added 11 points (two three-pointers), seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. None of the three stars played more than half of the game.
The swarming all out defense of Mitty limited O’Dowd standout sophomore Devin Cosgriff to two points on a pair of third quarter free throws, and as for the leading scorer freshman Ella Bibbins came off the bench for five points.
Mitty will resume WCAL play on te road in San Francisco at Archbishop Riordan on Tuesday night.
A very young Bishop O’Dowd (9-5) will have to regroup and get back to West Alameda County – Foothill League play where they already have lost a game last week to Piedmont.
Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco 66, San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno 53
After suffering a 75-42 West Catholic Athletic League loss to Archbishop Mitty the Fightin Irish girls won both of their games at the MLK Classic. On Saturday they were 58-48 winners over St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo and on Saturday they bested San Joaquin Memorial.
The way the game started didn’t look anything like the way it ended as Sacred Heart Cathedral (11-2) trailed by as many as eight early on and had an 18-13 deficit after one quarter, however that’s when it became the Reza Po show.
Po, a New Mexico-committed senior guard, had 25 of her game-high 27 points (five three-pointers) in the final three quarters.
With Sacred Heart Cathedral trailing 33-32 to start the second half, Po took charge and ignited a 12-0 run with two three-pointers and from there the Fightin Irish coasted home.
Junior Aniyah Versosa added 16 points including four thre-pointers, and senior Kiana Moniz chipped in with 11 points.
San Joaquin Memorial (9-4) was led by freshman Amieya Walters with 21 points (two three-pointers). Juniors Sienna Evans and Teyanna Burrell added 17 and 10 points, respectively.
Salesian-Richmond 53, Priory-Portola Valley 43
In one of three of the seven games contested on Saturday at the MLK Classic that wasn’t lopsided it was Salesian rebounding from a 64-50 MLK Classic loss on Saturday to host Bishop O’Dowd by taking control and never trailing in a game that only had one tie at 3-3 before the Pride went on a 9-0 run to take control.
Senior Ayla Rege and junior Janiya Sawyer led Salesian (8-8) with 13 points apiece with Rege adding six steals and five rebounds, plus she made three three-pointers. Sawyer’s twin sister Jamia Sawyer added 10 points and senior point guard Madalyn Kanazawa had nine assists.
Priory (7-6) got 14 points (four three-pointers from junior Natalie Neumann and 12 points from sophomore Ugreat Daniels.
St. Mary’s-Berkeley 51, Moreau Catholic-Hayward 46
The closest of the seven games played on Monday that was between two East Bay Catholic schools saw St. Mary’s overcome a 24-11 second quarter deficit and take charge down the stretch after the score was tied 39-39 early in the fourth quarter.
Junior Neiyah Thompson led St. Mary’s (9-9) with 20 points including two three-pointers, plus she was 8-for-8 on the free-throw line. Junior Marlee Richard added 12 points before fouling out.
Moreau Catholic (8-9) got 15 points (four three-pointers) from sophomore Eliie Ortega and 10 points (two three-pointers) from senior Maddie Bader.
Other Saturday MLK Classic scores
Inderkum-Sacramento 61, Castro Valley 36
Pinole Valley-Pinole 65, San Leandro 28
Ygnacio Valley-Concord 67, Mt. Eden-Hayward 23
